WORKER WAGE RAGE
Union calls for council employees to receive the same pay increase as Toowoomba councillors
HUNDREDS of Toowoomba Regional Council workers united to call for the same pay increase as the region’s councillors.
Wearing high-vis vests and waving flags, they are set to become a regular feature in the city as unions prepare for rolling strike action.
Organisers are calling for council workers to get the same pay increase as the elected councillors – about 2.5 per cent.
“What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander,” Electrical Trades Union organiser Dan McGaw said.
Neither side appears ready to concede with council CEO Brian Pidgeon saying he had presented the union with three offers, and each one was rejected.
EVERY Toowoomba councillor, from Mayor Paul Antonio to fresh-faced Rebecca Vonhoff will get a 2.5 per cent pay rise this year, but this wage increase will not extend beyond the council chambers.
Blue collar workers have been offered a two per cent increase as part of the current enterprise bargaining agreement, but Electrical Trade Union organiser Dan McGaw said this was not good enough.
“What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander,” he said. “If the councillors get 2.5 per cent, why don’t the workers get 2.5 per cent?”
The workers are also calling for a 0.5 per cent superannuation increase in line with the national standard.
The negotiations stalled in July, and with no breakthrough in sight the unions have called for rolling strikes.
Hundreds went on strike again yesterday when they camped out in Civic Square while the councillors gathered for their monthly ordinary meeting.
Mr McGaw said council CEO Brian Pidgeon had refused to meet with the unions. Instead he left it to the workers to divide the organisation’s $3.9 million annual wage budget.
“They are just stubborn – they have said their offer is their offer and they are not willing to budge any further,” he said.
“They have set a budget and are sticking to the budget and what we are saying is go back and revisit your budget.”
Yesterday’s strike drew support from the Australian Workers Union, the Australian Metal Workers Union, the Transport Workers Union and the ETU.
It followed similar action on September 2, which organisers say will continue.
“We’ll keep doing this until the CEO Brian Pidgeon starts listening,” Mr McGaw said.
“He has not been to one single meeting, he is not listening to his workers, and he is refusing to meet with the unions.”
After the first strike, Mr Pidgeon said he was disappointed the unions had rejected his offer.
“TRC representatives last
met with the combined unions on August 6 to discuss an updated offer,” he said.
“At this meeting the council reaffirmed its commitment to continuing negotiations.
“The current protracted nature of negotiations is impacting all of the council’s employees and effectively delaying any negotiated pay increase or improvements to conditions of employment.”
Mr Pidgeon said the council offer enhanced the current wage deal and did not take
away entitlements.
“While we understand each union has its own priorities … the council has more than 1650 employees and must negotiate a deal which provides the greatest benefit possible to the majority of the council’s workforce,” he said.
“It is crucial the agreement balances the best interests of employees but also the community Council represents.”
A council spokeswoman said Mr Pidgeon’s position had not changed.